EDITOR’S PICKS

Hunting for the best material from which to build organic solar cells can be like seeking the proverbial haystack needle, but now scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Naval Research Laboratory may have a better search tool for the nascent industry.

Mainz/Barcelona. A team of scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P) discovered that electrical conduction in graphene on the picosecond timescale – a picosecond being one thousandth of one billionth of a second – is governed by the same basic laws that describe the thermal properties of gases.

Organic molecules allow producing printable electronics and solar cells with extraordinary properties. In spintronics, too, molecules open up the unexpected possibility of controlling the magnetism of materials and, thus, the spin of the flowing electrons.

A solar cell that produces fuel rather than electricity. Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and FOM Foundation today present a very promising prototype of this in the journal Nature Communications.

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

These compact InGaAs snapshot video cameras from Sensors Unlimited - UTC Aerospace Systems feature capture of images from pulsed events or moving objects within one frame. The 320KTS-1.7RT provides high response from 0.9 µm to 1.7 µm and the 320KTSVis-1.7RT extends the response into the visible wavelengths, running from 0.4 µm to 1.7 µm

These Nd:YAG laser mirrors and coatings have high damage thresholds and high durability tolerance. Their standard coatings for these types of optics are ideal for laser manufacturers, systems integrators, or laser system end users.

BOROFLOAT®, the world’s first borosilicate glass by SCHOTT, has become one of the most influential specialty glass materials with its thermal stability, superior surface quality, and remarkably high transmission for utilization in research applications such as its implementation in the Hobby Eberly Telescope.

FROM THE EDITOR

The last decade has witnessed a virtual explosion in the development and global adoption of communications and information technology. While this era of swift, unprecedented technological advancement has conveyed innumerable benefits to civilian society, it also has ushered in a brand new set of challenges for the United States and other established military powers.

Perhaps most famously portrayed in Robert Heinlein’s Starship Troopers (1959), the idea of the “future soldier” has been around for decades. As rehashed in countless science fiction films and video games, the stereotypical future soldier is equipped with a protective exoskeleton, enhanced sensory equipment, seamless communication systems, and advanced weaponry. While the concept once seemed implausible, there are many real-world projects under way focused on realizing those seemingly fictitious warfighter capabilities — by integrating a plethora of diverse electronic subsystems into a cohesively operational suit.

ELECTRONIC MILITARY & DEFENSE MAGAZINE

Electronic Military & Defense was developed as a resource for engineers, program managers, project managers, and other professionals involved in the design and development of electronic and electro-optic systems for a wide range of defense and aerospace applications. Check out the digital edition of our latest issue for exclusive editorial on wearable antennas for military applications, countering EMI threats, biological and chemical threat detection, advances in optical sensing, and more.

Ophir Photonics, a Newport Corporation, began making laser power meters, energy meters, and beam profilers in 1979, and we’ve never looked back. We have headquarters in the United States, Israel, Japan, and Germany, as well as distributors in over 50 countries worldwide.

PI (Physik Instrumente) provides the world’s broadest range of precision motion technologies for both micro- and nano-precision applications. PI is the world’s first and largest manufacturer of piezoelectric nanopositioning technology. Started 4 decades ago as a supplier to research labs and universities, the company has grown into a business of 700+ employees and more than $100 million in global sales.

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TECHNICAL ARTICLES

For LED light fixture manufacturers who create linear products — such as replacements for fluorescent lighting — new light engines that are up to 48 inches long and 15 inches wide allow for the quicker, easier, and therefore cheaper assembly. This case study details how Acra Phenolic of Traverse City, Mich. -- a supplier of new and retrofit interior LED lighting for the office space and manufacturing sectors -- has seen significant savings by becoming an early adopter of this technology.

In order to save a considerable amount of time and finances, Xenics thermal cameras can detect heat defects in electronics before qualification. These cameras can also optimize a working instrument’s life cycle when used in critical control of heat dissipation. This application note describes how Gobi thermal imaging cameras can be used in PCB prototyping and repair, and in verifying thermal designs in power electronics motor drives.

LATEST HEADLINES

PI (Physik Instrumente) recently released a new compact ultra-precise V-551 motorized linear translation stage at Laser World of Photonics. This new stage is equipped with an integrated absolute-measuring for less referencing time, and a newly developed ironless magnetic linear motor for higher accuracy and smoother motion.

Acton Optics & Coatings recently developed a new 193nm XL high-reflectance coating ideal for low-fluence, high-repetition excimer laser applications. This new coating is also great for micromachining and materials processing applications.

Scientists from the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) have taken the technology used to create the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and made it small enough to be installed in hospitals. A miniature linear accelerator (mini-Linac), said developers, could be used for future cancer treatments, as well as the production of radioisotopes used in medical imaging and sterilization of medical equipment.

Proto Labs, Inc. recently introduced its new magnesium injection molding into its current rapid manufacturing services. The new injection molding process allows designers to prototype using the same materials and processes used for the final part production.

Gooch & Housego recently announced its leadership in a new project funded by Innovative UK in the recent call for proposals on “Commercialisation of Quantum Technologies”. The new project, called Freeze-Ray will run from July 2015 – September 2016, and will focus on developing a miniature high power fiber laser.

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